Type-writing machine.



A. G. F. KUROWSKL. TYPE WRITING MACHINE. APPLICATION man JULY 19. 1915.

1,252,820, Patented Jan. 8, 1918. 4 SHEETS-811E511- iNVENTOR \WITNESSES:WW Q W ywaw M A A. G. F. KUROWSKI.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 19. 915.

' Patented Jan. 8,1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

\NVENTOL? AT ORNEY,

A. G. F. KUROWSKI. TYPE WRlTlNG MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED luLYw. ms.

Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A. G. F. KURKIWS KB. TYPE WRITING meme. APPLICATION HLED JULY.I19. 1915.

Patented Jan. 8, 1918v 4 sumssnsu 4.

wrmissas: WWM' Rowsm, a subject of the German Empire,v

residing in first line to be printed thereon.

%TATE% PATENT @FFEQE.

ALFRED e. r. KUROWSKI, or BROOKLYN, new YORK, ASSIGNOR To UNDERWOOD'rYrn- WRITEB, COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Application filed July 19, 1915. Serial No. 40,572.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED G. F. KU-

Brooklyn borough, in the county of Kings, city and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful 1m" provements in Type-WritingMachines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to mechanism, especially adapted for useas part of a typewriting machine, for supporting cards in a relativelyflat condition against the platen, and for effecting a line-space feedof the cards as the latter are printed or stenciled.

Card-holders of this general description are usually connected to theplaten, orto the line-space mechanism of the latter, in order that inthe line-spacing operation, the platen and card-holder may be moved inunison from a single key or lever, or by means of a hand wheel on theplaten shaft. These connections have ordinarily been such as to preventmovement of the card-holder independently of the platen even in the.operation of positioning the card for the For simplicity and conveniencein positioning or re-positioning the card-holder, and for other reasons,as, for example, to permit the use of a record sheet, or to permitwithdrawal of the card-holder'from the machine without disturbing theline-space mechanism, it is desirable that, except in the line-spacingoperation. the card-holder be movable independently of the platen.

To this end, an ob ect of the present invention is a line-spacemechanism for the' cardholder, such that, only when operated, does itactually enigage the card-holder; the card-holder being normally movableindependently of the platen 1n either direction.

' A preferred form of mechanism embodying rying a this feature of theinvention comprises a card-holder whichis mounted to slide in a framerigidly attached to the carriage, the holder having fast thereto a rackadapted to be lifted by a. pawl normally disengaged therefrom, and theplaten shaft cartoothed wheel which vibrates the pawlwhen the shaftturns, to cause the pawl first to engage the rack and then'to lift itone step on each vibration. A suitable retaining dog holds the rackaftereach feed, and it may be moved to release the rack to permit freemovement of the holder when desired. I v

A further object of this invention is a card-holder of size, shape andweight to hold heavy cards firmly, and in flat condition, while the sameare fed and printed, and which to be used does not necessitate seriousmodification of the well-known other parts of a typewriting machine. Afeature of the invention is a frame on which the holder is supportedindependently of the platen, and on which the holder has a slidingmovement in guides of a nature to maintain the holder and the card intrue alinement at all times. A further feature of the invention is aspring device for throwing the card holder to an initial or normalposition, preliminary to the printin Patented J an. 8, 1918.

or stenciling of the first line on the car,

In its preferred form, this last device consists of a pairof springarms, detachably connected to the holder whenthe latter is mounted onits frame, and which exert a downward pressure on the holder to throwthe latter when the retaining dog, above mentioned, is withdrawn fromtheline-spacing rack on the card-holder.

Other features and advantages inafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings--- v .Figure 1 is a perspective view of theplaten and platen carriage of a modified Underwood typewriting machine.\'ith the. card-holder and operating mechanism of the present inventionattached thereto.

Fig. 2 is a detail view in side elevation of the platen. card-holder,and pawl-andratchet mechanism for line-space feeding of the card-holder,the parts being shown in normal position preparatory to the printing ofthe first line on the card.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, showing alsothe type bars, keys, universal bar, and other parts; the card-holderbeing in its normal or initial position shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of the platen, card-holder, andmechanism for supporting and feeding the latter, the ful1-l1ne positionof the parts'being that assumed after the card-holder has been fed up bythe line-space mechanism, and the position of the parts shown in brokenline; bein will herethat assumed after the card-holder has been releasedfor its return to normal ppsition.

Fig. a View similar; to Fig. 4, except that the line-space mechanismisshown as a locked to the card-holder and in the act of lifting thelatter.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. l.

Referrine to the drawin s which show 1 a 0 w tne lnvention as applied toa modified form of an Underwood machine',the platen 7 is fast to theplaten shaft 8, rotatably mounted at or near its ends in the carriageframe 9, and having the usual hand wheels 10. -Also 35 fastto the platenshaft 8 is the usual line space ratchet wheel 11, codperating with apawl (not shown) on a slide 12, actuated by the linc space finger lever13, pivoted at 14 to the carriage frame. The carriage frame m has itsusual letter-feed movement on the rod 15 on the main frame 16. In theem.- bodimentof the invention shown in the drawings,the platen is notshiftable between case positions, but is held in. upper case 25 positionby standards (not shown) on the carriage frame. A tie b21111? issubstituted for the usual rod which ties, together the sides of thecarriage skeletomand the latter is secured to the carriage frame byplates as 18, having ears l9 screwed at to the car- 35 presently to bedescribed.

For carrying and guiding the card-holder, there is a frame having sidepieces or racks- 24 and 25-, each of which is secured at 26" to. adepending car 27 on the tie bar 17.

ao iFor further supporting the side pieces 24 ""and25, there arebrackets 28, secured at 29 to the carriage frame, and at 30 to the sidepieces 24 and 25. The side pieces 24 and 25 are tied together at theirupper ends by a rod 31, and .each has a ti-shaped guide 32 on ,"whichthe card-holder. has up and down movement.

The card-holder is comprised of side members 33 tied at their lower endsby a cross piece 34, and at their upper ends by a cross piece 35, toform a rectangular frame. Each of the members 33 has alaterally-extending flange 36, and each of the flanges 36, near itsbottom and also near the top thereof, can ries a roller 37, which-isgrooved to ride on the opposing guides 32 on the supporting" frame. Eachof the card-holder frame anembers 33 is groovedat 38 to receive one edgeof the card, the bottom cross piece 34 serv so ing as a base for thecard. The cardholder supporting frame members 24 and 25 have also springfingers 39 attached thereto,- which extend over the side pieces of thecard-holder and are slightly turned toward 5 the platen to press thecard against the sate for bearings.

T he card holder is normally held in its lowermost position, in itssupporting frame, and when released is returned to such a position bymeans of arms-40, forked at their forward ends 42, to engage pins 43 onthe side pieces'33 pf the card-holder, and. mounted} at the rear on asleeve 44 on the rod 23 which ties the plates 18; Attached at one end tothe sleeve 44, and at the other end hooked under the adjacent plates 18,are coil springs 45, which tend to force down the arms 40, so that attheprop er time the card-holder may be thrown to normal or Fig. 1position. Upon contact of the racks 24. and 25 with blocks 24 and 25 thecardholder is arrested on reaching its lower position. It will be notedthat the mere lifting of the card-holder to withdraw it from the frame,causes the pins 43 thereof to lbe released by the arms 40 after asuflicir'mt upward movement of the holder. The connection of the holderto the arms 40 in placing the holder in its frame, is,almost an.

equally simple matter. The platen being shorter than the distancebetween the arms 40.,does not interfere with the movement of the latter.

For effecting the line-space movement of the cardholder, thefollowingmechanism is provided: Alilxed to and'concentric with theplaten 7 at each end thereof, is a ratchet wheel 46, the teeth 47 ofwhichact as cams to engage cam surfaces or teeth 48, one on each of apa1r of arms 49. The arms 49 are ailixed to a sleeve 50 adapted to rockon a shalt 51, which, for convenience, may be the paper clamp rod, andwhichis secured at either end.52 to the carriage frame 9.

The cams lift the, arms 49 against the-tension of springs 49, eachattached at oneend to a pin 49 or the arm 49, and at the other end to apin 49 on the adjacent plate 18, Rotation of the platen by theline-space wheel 11 therefore causes the arms 49 to 1 be vibrated up anddown.- Each of the arms 49'carries a pawl 53 pressed forward "by aspring 53 to' have a normal position determined by a pin-54 on the lates1-8.

On the rear face of eac of the side members 33 of the card-holder is arack. 55, the teeth of which are adapted to be engaged by the pawls 53when the latter are actuated by the cam wheels 46. The pins 54 hold thepawls normally out of engagement with the racks. When, however, theline-space wheel 11 is actuated to cause one or.;more of the teeth 47 onthe cam wheels 46 to vibrate the arms 49', the pawls 53 are swungforward by the springs 53 into engagement with the racks. and lift theracks and card-holder one step for each complete vibration of the arms49. For supporting the card-holder in 'its advanced position after eachstep movement of the latter, there are two dogs or pawls 56 attached toa rock shaft 57, which has hearing at either end in the brackets 28, andwhich carries a coil spring 59, secured at one end to the shaft and atthe other end to one of the brackets 28 for normally holding the dogs 56against the racks 55, so that on line-space movement of the card-holder,the dogs are first cammed out: fronr the racks by the inclined uppersurfaces of the teeth thereof, and then by reason of the spring 59 arecaused to hook under those teeth to support the card-holder in its newposition. If the retaining dogs 56 be disengaged from the racks when thelifting pawls 53 are also disengaged therefrom, then the card-holder isat once returned to. lower position by the spring-controlled arms andfor so disengaging the dogs 56, there is provided a finger lever 60secured to the dog-carrying shaft 57, which lever when depressed rocksthe shaft 57 and thus throws the dogs 56 from. the racks. The throw ofthe dogs is determined by contact of the same with the platen axle.

Referring to 3, the type keys 61 are shown mounted 'on key levers 62,having pinand-slot connections at 63-with bell crank interponents 64:,pivoted to the frame at 65. The interponents 64 connect at 66 to the ebars 67, the latter being pivotally mounted at 68 on the type segment,so as to be thrown upward against the front of the platen. Each typelever has a shoulder 69 adapted to strike the forward end of theuniversal bar 69 which controls the escapement for letter feed of thecarriage, and also vibrates the ribbon on each type stroke. In orderthat the universal bar may clear the card-holder frame, it'is somewhatU-shaped,

as shown in Fig. 3. At its rear it is pivotally connected at-70 to aframe 71 mounted to rock on a shaft 72. It carries abracket 73, whichhas two ears 74 and 75, and may be shifted on the universal bar to bringone or the other of the ears into pin-and-slot engagement at 76, withone arm of the ribbon-vibrating lever 77 causing a greater or less throwof the ribbon according to which of the bracket ears is engaged with thev1- brator, so that different color bands of the ribbon may be employed.The bracket 73 has a neutral position in which neither ear engages thevibrator, and when in this position, the ribbon does not vibrate attypestrokes. The bracket 73 is in neutral position when stenciling is to beeffected. The vibrator lever 77 is of a shape to clear the card-holderframe, and has the usual pivotal connection at 78 with theribbon-carrier 79. Since-the card-holder is inclined to the vertical,the ribbon-carrier 79 and the rib hon-shield 80 are similarly inclined,and the latter is supported by a bracket Sl'held by screws 82 to thesegment bridge. The type 83 are set at an angle on the type-bars, sothat the face thereof, at the printing point, may lie tangentially tothe platen, and are rounded over at 85 in order that they may notinterfere with the type guide 84.

It will therefore be seen that the incline of the cardholder, to bringthe lower part of the same beneath the platen and out of the way of thekeys, has involved no serious alteration of the other parts'of anUnderwood typewriting machine. It is also to be note that the frame inwhich the card holder is mounted to slide is carried by the carriageframe and not by the rotatable parts; also that this frame provides afirm mount for the card-holder, and holds the latter in true alinement.The holder itself is a substantial structure adapted to hold and feedheavy cards, and not easily distorted.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, andportions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I

' claim:

, enable said platen structure to operate the llIlO-fQQfllllg mechanismof the.card-holder.

The combination with a platen, of a card holder, means for effecting aline-space feed of the platen, a separate line-feeding mechanism forsaid card holder, said platen and card holder being normally movableindependently of each other, and means to 0pcrate'said separateline-feeding mechanism.

3. The combination with a platen, of a card holder, means for effectinga step-bystep line-space feed of the platen, means for connecting thecard holder to the platen for a step-by-step feed of the card holderwith the platen, and means for automatically disconnecting the platenand card holder after each line-space feed, to permit. independentmovement in either direction of either the platen or the card holder.

4. The combination with a platen, of a card holder, means for effectinga line-space feed of the platen, means for connecting the card holder tothe platen foia feed of the cardholder with. the platen, means forautomatically disconnecting the platen and card holder after each feed,and means for'holding the card holder in its advanced position aftereach feed.

The combination with a platen, of a card holder, means for effecting aline. space feed of the platen, means for connecting the card holder tothe platen for a feed 'of the card holder with the platen, means t forautomatically disconnecting the platen and card holder after each feed,and a spring-controlled dog for. automatically engaging and holding thecard holder after each feed of the latten 6. The combination with aplaten, of a card,holder, means for effecting a progressive line-spacefeed of the card holder past a printing line .at the platen, meanstending; to drive the card holder in the reverse direction, and meansfor delivering the card holder to the action of said reverse drivingmeans, and causing the latter to return the card holder independently ofthe position of the platen.

7. The combination with a platen, of a card holder, means for effectinga progressive line-space feed of the card holder past a printing line atthe platen, springs connected to the card holder to throw the same inthe reverse direction, and means operable independently of the positionof the platen for delivering the aid holder at will to the action ofsaid'springs.

8. The combination with a rotatable platen, of a relatively flat cardholder, a

fixed frame on which the card holder is adapted to slide, means foretlectin-g a linespace feed of the card holder on the frame, and meansoperable while the platen is at rest to return the card holder from anyposition to which it has been fed.

9. The combination with a rotatable platen, of a relatively tiat cardholder, a

fixed frame on which the card holder is adapted-to slide, meansvt'orefiectlng a linespace feed of the card holder on the frame, and meansoperable inde wndently of the rotative position of the platen forthrowing the card holder in the reverse direction on its frame.

10. The combination with a rotatable platen, of a relatively fiatcardholder, a fixed frame on which the card holder is adapted to slide,means for effecting a linespace feed of the card holder on the frame,

spring-controlled arms connected to the card holder for throwing thecardholder in the reverse direction on its fame, means for holding thecard holder against the action platen, offamans t'or ell'ecting aline-spacc movement of tlieplaten, a card holder, a

toothed wheel rotatable with the platen,a rack on'the card holder, a dogor pawl vibraiable by the teethof said wheel to engage the rack andadvance-the card holder step by step with the movement of said wheel,and a spring-controlled dog to hold the card holder in its advancedposition after each feed thereof.

13. The combination with a platen, of means for effecting a line-spacemovement of the platen, a card holder, :1 toothed wheel rotatable withthe platen, a rack on the card holder, a dog or pawl vibratabl'e by theteeth of said wheel to engage the rack and advance the card holder stepby step with the movement or said wheel, a spririg-controlled dog tohold the card holder in its advanced position after each feed thereof,and key-controlled mechanism for disengaging at will the retaining dogfrom the card holder to permit reverse movement of the latter.

11'. The combination with a rotatable platen, of means for effecting aline-space movement of the platen, a card holder, a toothed wheelrotatable with the platen, a rack on the cardholder, a pivoted arm having a cam surface for successive engagement with the teeth of said wheelas the latter is rotated, a spring for holding said arnr; againstsaidwheel, and a dog orpawl carried by said arm to engage said rae t andachvance the card holder on each vibration of the arm.

15. The combination with a rotatable platen, and movable. platencarriage, of carriage-feeding mechanisnna relatively flat card holder infront. of, and extended below the platen. front-strike type-bars, and auniversal bar protrmling into the path of the type-bars in front. of andabove the base of the card holder. and extended under and upward to therear of the card holder for engagement by the type-bars to operate the(an'riage-feeding mechanism on each'type st roke.

16. The ,combination with a rotatable platen, of a relatively flat cardholder, a fixed frame on which the card holder is adapted to slide,means l'or ett'ecting a linespace feed of the card holder on the frame,and spring fingers attached to the. frame for pressing-the card againstthe platen atthe printing line.

- lit. The combination with a platen, of a card holder, and means forcilia-ting a linespace feed of the platen and card-holder, saidcard-holder being normally,movable in either direction independently oithe platen.

18. The combination with a platen. of a card'holder, means for effectinga line-space feed of the platen and card-lmlder, saidcard-holderbeingnormally lnm'nlile independentlv of the platen, a springrlo move thecard-holder in one direction, means to hold rotatable 7 lac thecard-holder against such movement by said spring, and a key to releasesaid cardholder to the action of said spring.

19. The combination with a platen, of a card-holder, means for effectinga line-space feed of the platen and cardholder, said card-holder beingmovable independently of the platen, a spring to move the card-holder inone direction, a rack on said holder, a

locking dogto engage said rack and prevent the holder from being movedby said spring, and a key to release said dog and permit the holder tobe moved by the spring.

20. The combination with a platen, of a card-holder, means for feedingthe cardholder step by step past theprinting line at the platen, aspring operative to movethe card-holder in the opposite direction, areciprocatory feeding pawl or dog to engage said card-holder toline-feed the same, means to 'hold the card-holder against movement bysaid spring, and a key to release the holder to the action of saidspring.

21. The combination with a platen, of a card-holder, means for effectinga progressive line-space the printing line at the platen, a spring forthrowing the cardholder to initial position independently of the platen,a holding device to normally prevent said movement of the card-holder bythe spring, and a key-to release the card-holder from said holdingdevice and permit said operation of the spring.

22. The combination with a platen of a cardholder, mechanism forline-spacing the platen and concomitantly effecting a progressiveline-space feed of the card-holder past the printing line at the platen,a spring for throwing the card-holder to initial position while theplaten is at rest, a restraining dog to normally prevent the card-holderfrom being actuated by said spring, and a key to actuate said dog andthereby release the card-holder to the action of said spring.

23. The combination with a rotary platen, of line-spacing mechanism torotate the platen, a card-holder, means actuated by the line-spacingmechanism to effect. a progressive' line-space feed of the card-holderpast the printing line at the platen'as the latter is line-spaced, aspring connected to the card-holder to thfow the same in the reversedirection, and means operable independently of the rotative position ofthe platen to deliver the card-holder at will to the action of saidspring.

24:. In a front-strike typewriting machine, the combination with arotary platen, linefeeding mechanism therefor, and types to strike atthe front face of the platen, of a card-holding frame in an uprightposition at the front of the platen, said frame having means for guidingand holding a card, permitting the latter to be dropped into said feedof the card-holder pastsions, means t upwardly step frame into positionat the platen to receive the type impressions, step-by-step feedingmechanism for said frame, including means to normally prevent a returnmovement of said frame, and a device operable to cause the frame to bemoved downwardly to its initial position.

25. In a front-strike typewriting machine, the combination with a.rotary platen and types to strike at the front face of the platen, of acard-holding frame in an upright position at the front of the platen,said frame having means for guiding and holding a card, permitting thelatter to be dropped into said frame into position at the platen toreceive the type impressions, line-spacing mechanism to rotate theplaten step by step, and means operated by said mechanism to move theframe upwardly step by step to feed the card upwardly past the printingline at the platen, said moving means comprising a separate line'spacingmechanism.

26. In a front-strike typewriting machine the combination with a rotaryplaten ant types to strike at the of a card-holding frame in an uprightposition at the front of the platen, said frame having means for guidingand holding a card, permitting the latter to be dropped into said frameinto position at the platen, to receive the type impressions,line-spacing mechanism to rotate the platen step by step, means operatedby said mechanism to move the frame upwardly step by step to feed thecard upwardly past the printing line at the 'platen, a spring to movesaid frame downward to its starting position, a detent to hold the frameat any position to which it has been advanced by the line-spacingmechanism, and a key to actuate the detent and release said frame to theaction of said spring.

27. In a front-strike typewriting machine, the combination with a rotaryplaten, of a -card-holding frame provided withnpright the edges of acard whereby dropped into said frame and held in position to receive thetype impressions, a rack device on said frame, and linespacingreciprocatory pawl mechanism to engage said rack to feed said frame andcardupwardly step by step at successive reguide-ways for he card may beciprocations of said" pawl mechanism, past the printlng line at thefront face of the platen.

28. In a front-strike ty'pewritin machine, the combination with a rotarypl aten, of a card-holding frame provided with upright guide-ways forthe edges of a card whereby the card may be dropped into said frame andheld in position to receive the type impresfeed said frame and card bystep past the printing line at the front face of the platen, andspringhOldiIlg fingersarranged to bear against the outer face of thecard at the printing line for holdingthe card firmly against the platen.1

29. In a typewriting machine, the comhination with a rotary platemofguide rails extending transversely of the platen, a cardholding framemounted to travel on said frame step by step as the platen is rotated tofeed a card past the printing line at the platen, and means whereby thecard-holding frame may be moved in either direction independently of therotation of the platen, from [any position to which it. has been broughtby the operation of the line-spacing mechanism.

31. In a type vriting machine the comhination with a'oarriage of arotary platen mounted thereon, line-spacing mechanism for rotating theplaten, upright guide rails mounted on the carriage, a card-holdin framemounted on said guide rails to trave up and down thereon, said framehaving guides to receive the lateral edges of a card whereby the cardmay be dropped into said frame and held fiat and in contact wi h heplaten along the printing line, meansactw ated by the line-spacingmechanism to 'ad- Vance the card-holding; frame step by step and therebyhnespace't'he card concomitantly with the linespacing movement of the"platen, and'means tomove the card-holding frame in either directionindependently of the line-spacing platen is at rest.

82. The combination with a platen and line-spacing mechanism therefor,of a eardv mechanism and While the holder, means for efi'ecting aline-space feed of the platen, and a pa l-and-raclt mechanism betweenthe platen and the cardholder and operable by the laten for efi eet inga line-space feed of the card-holder.

- ALFRED G. F. KURUWSKI.

Witnesses I l i' W. (l. Wnsrennn 9 C. Hewett.

